Herpes Virus Can Go Into Hiding

... Is it possible to have genital herpes without knowing it?...

....Most cases are caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), but some are caused by HSV-1, which also causes most cases of cold sores. After an initial outbreak, HSV goes into hiding in the nervous system.

At some later point, the virus becomes active again, causing another outbreak. It's not clear exactly what triggers these recurrences, but they may be linked to menstruation, fatigue, stress and illness.

Once a person is infected by HSV-1 or HSV-2, the virus remains in the body for the rest of that person's life.....

...Several medications - acyclovir (Zovirax, generic), famciclovir (Famvir) and valacyclovir (Valtrex) - can shorten a herpes outbreak by a day or two. But this works only if you take them within 24 hours of the first signs of an outbreak....

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